Dredging machine



Feb, 23, 1932. .,J. GEIGER DREDGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet CJ. @ggg/ice n? Feb. 23, 1932. J.y GEIGER DREDGING MACHINE 3, Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14. 1930 /N ven rd g Feb. 23,' 1932. J. GEIGER 1,846,549

DREDGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 195o 3 sheets-sheet 5 J @gef Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES JULIUs GEIGER, on noLs'rHArnA, NEAR MUcxENisnRG, GERMANY DREDGING' rIAcnlrnn' Application med February 14, 1330, serial No. 423,462, end in germany November 1o,f19ze.

This invention relates to dredging machines of the type in which a bucket chain and chain frame for upward dragging is arranged on one side of the portable dredger body and 5 a bucket chain and chain frame for downward dragging is arranged on the other side of said body, and in which both bucket chains and chain frames can be vertically adjusted. I am also aware of the existence of dredgers having only one bucket chain and chain frame, and in which these members'can be moved vertically, as well as horizontally by a certain moderate angle. Now, in contradistinction to these known dredgers the characteristic feature of my present improved dredger consists therein that the bucket chain and chain frame for downward dredging are turnable horizontally by practically 90O to the one side and practically 90 to the other side, thus practically 180o in the whole, whereby the advantage is attained that the dredging can be extended to the boundary line, or line of demarcation, and, therefore, no shortening of the stope during the progress of the dredging work takes place. Be-

sides, owing to the provision of two bucket chains and chain frames on opposite sides of the dredger body, the stability of the dredger is particularly good, and no counter-weight is needed. The capacity of a dredger of this kind is double that of a dredger with only one bucket chain and chain frame, and finally, no readjustment of the buckets is necessary if the dredging work must change from downward dredging to upward dredging, and reversely, so that much time and labor is saved.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of examples on the accompanying drawings on which Y Figure l is a front view of a dredging machine designed according to this invention and conveying the material into trucks;

Figure 2 is a side view of this machine, the

bucket chain and chain frame for downward dredging having, however, been turned by 900, as has also the upper turntable frame, from which said other members are suspended; i

o Figure 3 is a view like Fig. 1 and shows practically. the samel dredger, there being,

however, fthe two'difleren'ces that, firstly, the material is conveyed onto belts, and secondly, the bucket chain and 'chain frame for downward dragging are so lifted as to lie'55 horizontally 5 Figure 4 is a plan of the dredging machine shown in Fig. 3; the horizontally located bucket chain and chain frame being drawn in full lines (corresponding to Fig. 3), as well as in dotted lines in two positions, each of which is remote from the first-mentioned position by an angle of Figure 5 shows two dredgers of the kind illustrated in Fig. 1 co-operating with a com-i mon conveyor bridge, and

Figure 6 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, a denotes the bucket chain and chain frame for down" ward dragging, and b denotes the bucket chain and chain frame for upward dragging.

The members denoted with a are suspended from a horizontally turnable frame d, and the members denoted with b are suspended' from a horizontally turnable frame e, the frame d being arranged above the frame e and both being turnable on a vertical pillar f which forms the central member of the dredger body. The entire machine is carried? e0 by rails or tracks c on which it can be shifted according to the progress of the dragging work. The weights of the frames d and e are so chosen, that they are practically equal to one another in order to provide for a se-`Y`4 e5 cure stability of the machine. The bucket chain and chain frame a can be swung to either side by practically 90. a in Fig. 2 denotes one of these positions.

Concerning Fig. 3, the only constructional '9o difference relatively to Figs. l and 2 consists therein, that the material is not conveyed into trucks g, as in Fig. l, but onto belts'h. There is, however, also shown in this ligure that it is possible to lift the members a into horirv zontal position. Also the members b can be lifted vertically, if required, and they are also horizontally turnable, but not in such an extent as the members a. These members can be turned practically by 900, as appearsvl from Fig. 4, in which said members are shown in three positions, as mentioned a1- ready in the short description of the figures, the normal position being shown in full lines and the two other ones in dotted lines.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown that two dredging machines of my improved construction can work at a time in con]unction with a conveyor bridge le. These figures do not require a more detailed description.

I claim:

A dredging machine comprising a body, frames mounted to turn about a vertical axis on said body and arranged one above the other to afford a Wide range of swinging movement, bucket chains, and means adjustably suspending the chains from the frames for swinging movement with the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

J ULIUS GEIGER. 

